Thomas daeby



UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. GERLAOH, OF SAME PLACE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,379, dated March 21, 1882.

Application filed August 1, 1881. (N0 model.) v

To all whom it may concern:

- Beitknown that I, THOMAS DARBY, of the cityot' Buffalo,in the county of Erie and State of New York,haveinvented new and useful [inprovements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fireescapes which are permanently attached to the outside of buildings and capable of being compacted into a small space, so as not to obstruct or disfigure the building when the apparatus is not required for use. p

The object of my invention is the construction of a fire-escape of this character which can be quickly placed in working position, and by which persons can readily descend and ascend at the same time.

My invention consists of the peculiar construction of the apparatus, as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a building to which my improved fire-escapes are applied, the escape being shown both in front elevation and in side elevation in said figure. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional top plan view of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of myimproved fire-escape. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections in lines w or and 3 y, Fig. 3,1espectively. Fig.6 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism by which the endless ladder is supported when not in use.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the building to which my improved fire-escapes are applied.

B represents a horizontal rod or bar arranged below the cornice ot' the building, and supported at its ends in brackets B, secured to the building.

0 represents a traveling carriage supported on the rod B, and capable of being moved horizontally on the same between the brackets B.

may be arranged side by side for the support of the carriage, if desired.

D is a horizontal shaft turning in the depending arms 0; and E E are two chain wheels or pulleys, cast with or secured to the same connecting sleeve E, and mounted on the shaft D by means of a key, 0, as shown in Fig. 3, or otherwise.

F is an endless-chain ladder supported with its upper portion on the chain-wheels E, and made long enough to reach the ground.

G is a ratchet-wheel secured to the shaft D, and provided with a spring-pawl, g,which prevents the ratchet-wheel and the pulleys E and other parts mounted on the shaft D from turning, except with theirnpper portions toward the building.

H represents a brake-wheel secured to or cast with one of the chain-wheels E; and I is the brake-band secured at one end to the depending arm C, adjacent to the brake-wheel, and provided at its other end with a weight, 2', or a suitable spring or other device, whereby the brake-band I is pressed against the brakewheel with sufficient force to prevent too rapid revolution of the chain-wheels E.

It represents a chain or rope attached to the free end of the brake-band I, and hanging within convenient reach of a person descending on the endless ladder E.

1 represents a rope or chain, whereby the carriage G is moved back and forth on the rod B. The rope I is secured with one end to a lug, m, on the carriage G, passes thence over a pulley, a, near one end of the rod B, and thence downward to and around a pulley, o, thence upward and over a pulley, 1), near the pulley n, thence to a pulley, q, near the opposite end of the bar B, and thence to another lug, r, on the carriage. The lower pulley, 0, is arranged near the ground, so as to be within easy reach of persons outside of the building, and those portions of the rope which run upward from the pulley 0 are carried near the windows or through the rooms,in order to permit this rope to be operated from the interior of the building. By pulling on the rope l in one or the other direction the carriage G and the endless ladder attached thereto are readily moved back and forth on the bar B, thereby enabling persons, inside or outside of the building, to place the endless ladder opposite any portion of the building from which persons may wish to escape.

S represents a basket, box, or other receptacle of suflicient capacity to hold the endless ladder I and s s are two ropes attached to the basket S, and running upward over two pulleys, t, arranged in the wall of the building, near or above the chain-pulleys E. The ropes s terminate inside the building, and are used for drawing the basket S up to its highest position, after placing the chain-ladder over the basket. The ladder is gathered in the basket as the latter is raised, and when the basket arrives in its highest position it is caught by a lever, U, the outer end of which engages in a ring, a, attached to the basket. The lever U is arranged in a horizontal position in an opening extending through the wall ofthe building, and turns on a vertical pivot, a. The outer end of the lever is connected by a horizontal pivot or hinge, M, with the main portion of the lever, whereby the outer end of the lever is permitted to swing upward and out of the way when the ring a of the basket passes by in raising the basket, and to drop back and project into the ring when the upper part of the ring has cleared the end of the lever. After the latter has engaged in the ring a the ropes s are released, and the basketis now supported solely by the lever U.

o is a rope, which is attached to the inner end of the lever U, and which extends downward through the building and terminates near the ground, preferably on the outside of the building. The end of the rope maybe inclosed in a locked case, V, the key of which may be kept in a convenient place near by, where it can be readily obtained when required. By pulling on the rope a the lever U is swung on its pivot, so as to disengage it from the ring a of the basket, thereby releasing the basket and permitting it and the ladder contained therein to drop. When the rope a is released the lever U is returned to its former position by a spring, M. The ladder F being in this manner made ready for use, it is placed opposite the' windows of the building by operating the rope l. Persons escaping from the windows first seize the brake-chain k, and then step upon the inner part of the ladder, and descend with greater or less rapidity, according to the pressure which they apply to the brake. In descending, the chain 7; is permitted to pass through the hand of the descending person. The outer portion of the ladder may be used at the same time for ascending to the upper stories of the building, since the ladder is bythe ratchet mechanism prevented from turning in the direction in which the outer portion of the ladder would descend. By pulling on the inner part of the ladder persons on the ground may elevate persons who stand on the outer portion of the ladder. Any desired number of such ladders may be applied to a building, and as they are hidden in the baskets S, when not required for use, they do not disfigurc the building or obstruct the windows thereof.

I claim as my invention 1. In a lire-escape, the combination, with an endless ladder, 1 of supporting wheels or pulleys E and a ratchet mechanism, G {1, whereby the ladderis prevented from moving except in the proper direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire escape, the combination, with the endless ladder F, ofthe supporting-wheels E, brake mechanism H I, and ratchet mechanism G, all mounted in a traveling carriage, O, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the endless ladder F, of the basket S and mechanism whereby the basket is elevated, the basket being adapted to gather the endless ladder as it is elevated, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the endless ladder F and basket S, of the lever U, whereby the basket is supported in an elevated position, and mechanism whereby the lever U is released at desire and the basket and ladder permitted to drop, substantially as set forth.

THOMAS DARBY.

Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, EWD. J. BRADY. 

